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The term 'stem cell' most commonly refers to embryonic stem cells, particularly in the lay media; however, it also describes other cell types. A stem cell represents a cell of multi-lineage potential with the ability for self-renewal. It is now clear that the plasticity and immortality of a given stem cell will depend on what type of stem cell it is, whether an embryonic stem cell, a fetal-placental stem cell or an adult stem cell. Stem cells offer great promise as cell-based therapies for the future. With evolving technology, much of the socio-political debate regarding stem cells can now be avoided., (© 2011 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health © 2011 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).)

The article discusses the controversies surrounding the research in human embryonic stem cells in Europe. It mentions that human embryonic stem cells research offers a prospect of great medical benefits but requires research on human embryo and destroy the embryo from which they are taken. It mentions that questions were raised over the ontological and moral status of the embryo, its effect on the value of human dignity, and creating human embryos mainly for research.

The article presents abstracts on stem cells research topics which include the ranking of values as a basis for ethical decision making in ethical controversies: the case of stem cell research, the import of embryonic stem cell lines, and ethics and legislations on stem cell research examples on European legislations on stem cell research.

In this article convergence in European countries' legislative rules concerning the use of embryos in research is studied by looking at how such rules have been formulated in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. An answer will be given as to whether these countries' rules concerning the use of embryos in research have converged and if so what direction this convergence has taken, either liberalization or an extension of moral regulation by the state. This analysis shows to some extent that liberalization of the legislative rules concerning the use of embryos in research has taken place in these countries but also exposes how EU research funding policy has slowed it down. Subsequently, attention will be paid to the driving forces behind the liberalization as well as the countering forces it evokes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a study of the relationship between trust in institutions and attitudes to gene technology in general, and GM food and stem cell research in particular. The role of so-called active trust is emphasised, meaning that trust is neither conceived as a trait nor a one-dimensional concept. The study uses data from a Eurobarometer survey of gene technology in Europe, conducted in 2002. People's attitudes in five European counties, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and United Kingdom are compared, and the significance of trust in institutions in these countries is investigated. The results show that trust in institutions has an impact on attitudes to gene technology. Trust in experts, stakeholders and official bodies are associated with positive attitudes to GM food and stem cell research, whereas trust in Non-Governmental Organisations is associated with negative perceptions of these technologies. This confirms the significant role of active trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell transplantation requires a source of stem cells. The potential use of human embryonic stem cells for research and therapy has created major ethical and political debates in Europe. The first section of this paper gives an overview of the official regulatory responses to the possibility of stem cell transplantation in a range of European jurisdictions. It focuses on the regulation of: (1) the use and production of embryonic stem cells, (2) the use of adult stem cells, and (3) the patenting of stem cell lines and products. The second section tries to unravel why regulatory responses have differed between different European countries, especially with regard to embryonic stem cells and focuses on two possible explanations for the differences: (1) ethical disagreement and (2) maintenance of regulatory consistency. It is argued that an exclusive focus on ethical disagreement cannot fully explain the differences in regulatory response, and that an understanding of the specific way in which regulations develop over time in each jurisdiction is crucial. Certain types of ethical consistency arguments can, for instance, only be mounted successfully if the jurisdiction in question already allows other forms of experiments involving human embryos. In the final section it is argued that the European regulatory developments in the future may be crucially dependent on whether actual stem cell products are developed that can potentially be traded across borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last two years, research into stem cells has raised extraordinary therapeutic hopes such as regenerative medicine - but also strong ethical questions. These questions have been fuelled by announcements, from private companies in particular, of the possibilities for human cloning. One of these questions relates to the patentability of inventions resulting from this area of research. In Europe this question is linked to the general debate surrounding the patentability of biological materials, such as genomic sequences. Although a large number of applications have been filed these last years, a few patents have already been issued. Some of them have been opposed at the European Patent Office. At the request of the European Commission, the European Group on Ethics (EGE) has prepared an opinion on ethical aspects of patenting inventions resulting from human stem cell research. The opinions expressed in this paper are the personal views of the author and do not in any way represent official views of the company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A calendar of events related to dentistry from August to September 2012 is presented which includes Scottish Scientific Conference: contemporary management in Dunblane, Scotland on September 7, Optimising Outcomes in Restorative Dentistry in Edinburgh, Scotland on September 20, and Infection Prevention in Dentistry conference in Liverpool, England on October 1.

Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 2 is clinically and genetically heterogeneous. A particular clinical subtype of autosomal dominant Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 2, characterized by diaphragm and vocal cord paralysis, is labelled Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 2C but no genetic locus has been mapped for this form. We describe the first European family affected by Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 2C. Genetic analysis excluded linkage to locus of Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 2A, B, D, E and F, and to locus of distal hereditary motor neuronopathy type VII. In this family the disease has high penetrance, variable severity and apparently the most severe limb muscle involvement in the youngest generation. Vocal cord paralysis is unrelated to the degree of muscular weakness and patients with the most severe muscle involvement have absent or minimal respiratory symptoms. Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 2C is clinically and genetically different from Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 2A, B, D, E and F, and is not allelic with distal hereditary motor neuronopathy type VII. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]